A screenshot of Green Arrow fighting Wonder Woman from the video game "Injustice: Gods Among Us." The game, from the creators of "Mortal Kombat," features Batman, Superman and other DC Comics characters fighting their arch-nemesis and each other.

A screenshot of Green Arrow fighting Wonder Woman from the video game "Injustice: Gods Among Us." The game, from the creators of "Mortal Kombat," features Batman, Superman and other DC Comics characters

It's the question comic-book fans have asked since the dawn of superheroes: Who would win in a fight?

One new video game looks to deliver some hard-hitting answers. “Injustice: Gods Among Us” casts Batman, Superman and other DC Comics heroes in brutal slugfests with their archnemeses, as well as each other. That's right — heroes fight heroes in this new game by the creators of “Mortal Kombat,” which hits stores Tuesday.

Those button-mashing beat downs may look like fun, but you can't beat the comic-book fights that inspire them. To prove it, we asked local comic shop staffers for their favorite hero-vs.-hero battles, along with some dream fights they'd like to see and who would win them.

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Favorite fights

Hulk vs. Wolverine: This raging battle broke out in 1974's “Incredible Hulk” No. 181, the first full-issue appearance of Wolverine, the popular X-Men hero with the adamantium claws that pop out from the backs of his hands. Who better to welcome the feral little scraper than the meanest (and greenest) behemoth in comics?

“It's just one of those brutal fights that you can really get into, like going to see over-the-top action movies,” says John Carey, senior clerk at the Alien Worlds on Southwest Loop 410.

It also practically shouts David and Goliath, with the short, yellow-clad Wolverine clawing at the jade giant Hulk.

“That was kind of cool, the little guy against the big guy,” says Collectors Authority owner Pete Contero Jr., another big fan of the Hulk/Wolverine confrontation.

Batman vs. Superman: In “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,” Frank Miller's seminal 1986 tale features an older Batman in the future who comes out of retirement to fight the good, albeit grittier, fight. When a government-lackey Superman tries to reel him in, the dark and light forces of justice collide in a blockbuster battle.

“It's just a great fight, especially because it's an older Batman,” says Bob Schaefer, manager at Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy in San Antonio.

“You see Superman in a way that you really don't see Superman in comic books when he's taking on the normal villains,” says Roman Vargas, a comic department manager at the Heroes & Fantasies in San Antonio.

Batman vs. Predator: If Batman can go toe-to-toe with comics' most famous extraterrestrial, why not the towering alien from the Predator franchise? The Dark Knight does just that in the early '90s miniseries “Batman Versus Predator.”

“Just pitting the most legendary nonsuper-powered superhero against an unstoppable alien ... it just didn't seem like something that would happen. Until it did,” says Mark Clark, owner of Bazinga Comics.

Dream fights

Hulk vs. Superman: This dream scrap actually came true in the pages of “Marvel Comics Versus DC” No. 3, part of a 1990s crossover that threw Marvel heroes such as the Hulk and Spider-Man against DC's finest do-gooders, including Superman and Batman. Readers voted to determine who won certain battles, such as the powerhouse bout between the Hulk and Superman.

Carey says such a battle could go either way. On one hand, Superman could fly the Hulk into space to knock him out. On the other, the Hulk could pin Superman to the ground MMA-style and whale on the Man of Steel until he breaks.

So who does Carey think should win?

“If I had to pick one,” he says, “I'd pick the Hulk.”

Captain America vs. Batman: This popular dream fight also unfolded in “Marvel Comics Versus DC” No. 3. And no wonder: Cap versus the Caped Crusader pits two of the toughest heroes in comics without true superpowers against each other.

We could split hairs about Captain America's abilities courtesy the Super Soldier Serum, though technically he's just the peak of human physicality. Not that it matters, as far as Contero is concerned.

“I would love to say Captain America would win because he has more of the stamina,” Contero says, “but, unfortunately, I think Batman would cheat.”

Vargas also loves the idea of a mano-y-mano between Captain America and Batman. And he also says the Sentinel of Liberty doesn't stand a chance.

“(Batman) can always find out the weakness to everybody,” Vargas says.

Hawkeye vs. Green Arrow: Clark says the two master archers — Hawkeye with Marvel Entertainment and Green Arrow with DC — are so evenly matched that their fight has to happen. Given their penchant for tear-gas arrows and other crazy-tipped gear, it may come down to which bowman empties his quiver first.

Based on Clark's personal preference, “I would automatically root for Hawkeye,” he says.

Shazam vs. Thor: Talk about calling down the thunder. Schaefer notes that the magical Shazam has the power of ancient gods, while the mighty Thor is a god, the Norse god of thunder. So sparks should fly when these two clash.

As for the last man standing in this maelstrom, Schaefer points out Shazam is still just mortal Billy Batson in godlike clothing.

“I think they're powered about equally,” Schaefer says. “But I probably would, at the end, have to give it to Thor.”

Unless, of course, the Dark Knight enters this fray. Or any fight, for that matter.